Transferring mechanism for machines for molding pulp articles



B. R. WILLIAMSON.

TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR MOLDING PUL P ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, I919.

1 ,360,848, Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETS SHEET 1.

Fig.1.

lnv ehTor. BeTT Rwiniumson B. R. WILLIAMSON.

TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR MOLDING PULP ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-6,1919.

1,360,848. Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

' 3 SHEETS-SfiEET 2. Fig. 2. 6%

lnvenTor. BerT RWHIiamson yMWA M AITys B. R. WILLIAMSON.

TRANSFERRING MIECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR MOLDING PULP ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 6, I919.

1,360, 48; Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- as '36 "I 35 v 7 44 42 4s 47 45 42 I 32 4| 53 39 2 As .l 46

. I S0 4 I, I; I \Q F a '1' 48 48 Is I, I Fig.6. 54 39 45 4847 S 2 v 45 \nvenbr g a 1, Befl R. \lvmmmson Z4 I i S M 1 Harry- UNITED STATES BERT R. WILLIAMSON, OF FAIRFIELD, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO KEYES FIBRE OF WATERVILLE, MAINE,'A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY,

TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR MOLDING PULP ARTICLES.

Application filed October 6, 1919. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERT R. WILLIAMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at county of Somerset, State of Maine, and whose post-office address is F airfield, Maine, have invented an Improvement in Transferring Mechanism for Machines for Molding Pulp Articles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for molding articles from pulp of the type disclosed in the patent to Keyes No. 7 59,616, granted May 10, 1904, and Chaplin No. 1,186,647 granted June 13, 1916.

The apparatus disclosed in these patents comprises a rotating series of molds mounted upon a horizontal axis. each mold having nesting faces between which the articles are formed, a vat to contain the pulp so located that one or both of the mold faces dip into the pulp during the operation of the rotation of the mold carrier, means to apply suction to one face of the mold while it is immersed in the pulp whereby a layer of pulp is deposited upon said face, means to close the mold faces together and compress the pulp layer into an article of the desired shape such as a pie plate or a butter dish, means for transferring the molded article from the mold face for drying, and preferably, to a conveyer or drier.

The present invention is particularly concerned with this transferring means. Such means comprises a hub mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and provided with a plurality of radial hollow arms terminating in suckers or pick-offs. Suction is applied through one of these arms just as eachfmold member reaches the horizontal plane of the sucker. The article is caused to adhere to the sucker and is carried thereby to a point directly over the conveyer and is then released from the sucker bya short blast of compressed air projected through the hollow arm. This transferring mechanism is necessarily of considerable weight. It is essential that the pick-off or sucker face shall accuratel register with the molded article presenter to it by the mold face.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a transferring mechanism which shall secure this accurate registry.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'with the bottom in order ed articles are in a soft Patented Nov. 30, 1920. 328,757.

This is particularly desirable in the case of molded articles such for example as butter dishes where the bottom is rectangular and the s de walls extend therefrom at a comparatively sharp angle. The picker must reach down into the interior or concave side of these articles and register acccurately to remove the article wlthout injury from the concave mold face. It will be remembered that the moldwet condition and must be carefully handled during removal from the mold face, during transfer and upon deposit on to the traveling conveyer. It will be remembered also that in the type of apparatus referred to the mold faces are traveling'ina vertical circle while the pickofl's of the transferring mechanism are traveling in a horizontal circle so that accurate registry of the pick-off with the mold face is necessary not only because of the shape of the article but because of the fact that the transfer must be made at the point where these two paths coincide.

One feature of the invention consists in supporting and guiding the rotary hub of the transferring mechanism upon a rigid frame at a substantial distance from its axis of rotation so that the plane of rotation will be maintained notwithstandingthe weight of the parts and the shock and jar of the powerful apparatus of which it is a part.

Another, feature of the invention resides in providing a drive for the rotary hub and radial arms at a considerable distance from the axis of rotation so that the movement of rotation imparted is steady and even.

Another feature of the invention resides in means for supporting the rotary hub with the radial hollow arms and suckers or pickofi's in such a manner that the driving mechanism is relieved of the weight of these 7 timing relation and to secure the accurate and tight fit required between the hollow head and the hub.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of meansfor insuring a firm and even bearing for the rotary hub vand radial arms upon the frame and in the provision of means for taking up or compensating for wear.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

' The drawings illustrate only so much of a machine of the type disclosed in the patents above referred to as is necessary to a disclosure of a preferred form of this invention.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an end'view of the main portion of the entire apparatus with particular reference to the transferring means.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a central portion of the apparatus in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the trans ferring mechanism and supporting frame shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view on a larger scale and chiefly in vertical section taken on the lines 0f 3. 1- 1 1g. 6 IS a detall on the same scale as Fig. 5 taken 1n vertical cross section on the hne 6-6 of Fig. 3.

The apparatus comprises a main rectangular frame composed of the side plates 1, the front plate 2, and the back plate 3 bolted together and supporting the pulp vat or tank 4 which preferably extends below the level of the floor y The rotating mold carrier 6 supports at its periphery the fixed mold faces 7 and carries the cooperating mold faces 8 at the end of arms 9 pivoted thereto. This mold carrier 6 is mounted to move in a vertical plane on the main frame at the front thereof to carry one or both sets of the mold faces through the pulp vat and is conveniently driven by a pinion 10 in mesh with gear teeth 11 on the periphery of the mold carrier. As the molds pass through the pulpvat the pulp is sucked upon the face thereof, the mold faces are closed together and compressed, thereafter the movable mold faces swing open and come successlvely into a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1. By the use of suction and compressed air as fully set forth in the patents above referred to the molded article is thus presented on the movable mold face in a horizontal position ready to be picked off and transferred to the drying apparatus.

The transferrlng mechanism is preferably mounted upon the rear of the main frame opposite to the 'mold carrier. The supporting frame for the transferring mechanism of this invention is constituted as a firm and rigid structure made up of flanged iron beams. In the preferred embodiment illustrated this frame comprises two V shaped members or struts 12 and 13 secured to the rear plate 3 of the main frame and preferably extending somewhat upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. A truss.

shaped member 14 extends vertically from and is bolted to these struts 12 and 13 presenting at the top the fiat flanged surfaces 15 and 16 widely separated from each other. A single upright 17 is bolted to the top of the rear plate 3-and extends vertically parallel with and centrally of. the truss member 14 so that its upper end forms with the surfaces 15 and 16 a triangle. This upright 17 is further rigidly secured by the hollow cross bar 18 to the support for the mold carrier at the front of the apparatus thus tightening together and bracing the struc ture.

A rigidhorizontal spider like member is bolted to the top of the truss member 14: and the member 17 as in the form illustrated.

This spider comprises the central boss 19 and four flanged and webbed radial horizontal arms 20, 21, 22, and 23. The arm 21' preferably is somewhat wider and larger than the other three and is box shaped at its outer end and is bolted at 2et to the top of the upright 17 while the arms 20 and 22 are bolted at and 26 respectively to the upper faces 16 and 15 respectively of the truss member 14. Thus a very firm and rigid support for the spider is secured, and the remaining arm 23 although not supported beyond the boss 19 is held firmly in position.

This spider like member, thus rigidly supported, with its supports constitutes the supporting frame for the transferring mechanlsm.

The head 27 is preferably of the type illustrated in the patent to Keyes above referred to and is provided with a vacuum chamber and a compressed air chamber connected to suitable sources'of .vacuum and compressed air by pipes, one of which is indicated at 28. These chambers are in communication with ports 'at ,the periphery of the head 27 as disclosed in the said patent.

This head in the preferred form illustrated is provided at the bottom with a cen-- the axis of rotation of the hub of the transferring means.

Rotary adjustment of the head 27 to secure the proper timing relation of the ports in its periphery is conveniently secured by providing a pair of horizontal arms 32 projecting radially from the head engaging between set screws 33 mounted in lugs 34 upstanding from the arms.20 and 22 of the spider. I

The hub 35 of the transferring mechanism may be of a type similar to that illustrated in the patent to Keyes above referred to. It fits snugly over the head 27 and the contacting faces are frusto conical as in the said patent. The hub is provided with a plurality of radial hollow arms 36 jointed at 37 and provided at the end with a sucker or piclcoif 38. As fully explained in the pat ents above referred to, the ports at the inner ends of these hollow arms or at the inner periphery of the hub 35 at proper times during the rotation of the hub connect with the vacuum and compression ports on the head 27' to'supply vacuum to the pick-offs when the pick-offs swing down into contact with the plates presented by the movable molds 8, and compressed air when the pickoffs are in position to deliver the plates to the drying apparatus. The contacting frusto conical surfaces of the hub and head therefore constitute the valve for these ports and the fit must be accurate while the pressure due to the weight of the hub and connected parts must not be such as to cause binding or excessive wear during the rotary movement.

In order to secure the desired operation the hub 35 is supported in an annular carrier of comparatively large diameter. This carrier in the preferred form illustrated comprises a vertical ring shaped web 39 having a horizontally projecting flange 40 and internally radially projecting arms 41. These arms have bolted thereto at their inner end at 42 an annular hub support 43 .which is conveniently wheel shaped. The hub has a driving fit in the center of this hub support 43 and is keyed at 44 thereto. The hub carrier is supported at its periphery on .the supporting frame for rotary movement in such a manner that it shall move steadily and evenly without lost motion in any direction. This result is conveniently secured by providing the ends of the arms 20, 21, 22, and 23 of the supporting frame with antifriction metal bearings 45 for the flange 40. Anti-friction retaining plates 46 are clamped to the bearings 45 by the bolts 47 to retain the flange 40 in place. This insures maintenance of the hubcarrier in a horizontal plane. In order to take up wear and provide for radial adjustment of the hub carrier, end bearing blocks 48 of anti-friction metal are provided and these are each adjustably secured in place in the bearings 45 by three set screws 49, 50 and 51. The center set screw 50 passes through an upstanding flange of the bearing 45 and is threaded into the bearing block 48 so that by turning the set screw the bearing block may be moved radially. A lock nut 52 is provided on each set screw 50 to hold it in its adjusted position. The other two set screws 49 and 50 are threaded through the upstanding flange of the bearing 45 and abut against the bearing block 48 and when adjusted in sure contact of the bearing block throughout its peripheral face with the periphery of the flange 40. Thus, there is provided a very accurate means for adjusting the radial position of the hub carrier and insur ing its movement without lost motion.

Rotary movement of the hub carrier is effected by driving it at or adjacent its periphery so that a steady and even movement will result and this is arranged so that the weight of the hub carrier is not transmitted to the driving means. This result is conveniently secured by providing the ring shaped web 39 at its inner periphery with an internal gear 53 and engaging this gear with a pinion 54 mounted on the end of a vertical shaft 55 having a bearing in the arm 21 at its upper end and a bearing 56 near the lower end of the upright 17. This shaft 55 is preferably formed in two parts with a coupling 57 enabling rotary adjust ment to be readily made in assembling or a when desired. At its lower end the shaft 55 carries a beveled pinion 58 driven by a beveled pinion 59 on a horizontal shaft eX- tending through the sleeve 18 and driven from the front of the machine as disclosed in the patents above referred to.

The weight of the hub, hollow arms and pick-offs or suckers is thus taken by the hub carrier and transmitted to the bearings at the ends or periphery of the supporting frame thus giving an extended support and placing no more weight upon the head than is necessary to secure the desired fit. The amount of pressure placed upon the head is determined entirely by adjusting the set screw 31 so that this adjustment can be made with great accuracy and changed as re quired by wear. The spherical support of the head also causes it. automatically to adjust itself to the hub. The hub carrier being driven atits periphery is rotated smoothly and evenly and this rotary movement is unaffected by direct transmission of weight to the driving mechanism.

The outer sections of the pick-off or sucker arms are guided at 60 by cam guide ways 61 as in the 'patents above referred to to swing them a re uired.

he result of the employment of the features of this mvvntion is that it is possible rout their pivots 37 as to place the face of the pick-off or sucker in accurate registry with the article presented to it by the movable mold faces so that this article will be properly transferred from the mold face to the pick-off or sucker without damage or injury. This, as has already been pointed out, is of great importance especially when the pick-offs must reach into the concave surface of the article pre sented by the mold face and contact with a rectangular or an irregular shaped bottom surface.

The hub 35 is provided with an eye bolt 62 as in the (haplin patent above referred to so that the rotating parts of the transferring device may readily be removed from the. machine when desired. To effect this it is merely necessary to remove the retaining plates 46 and connect a crane or other horizontal device to the eye bolt when the entire transferring device may be lifted off from its support.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising a supporting frame. a head provided with vacuum and compressed air chambers mounted upon the frame, a hub carrier peri l1erally supported on the frame for rota y movement concentrically of the head, a hub on the carrier fitting over the head. pick offs connected to the hub, and means for rotating the hub carrier. v

2. A transferring mechanism for a pulp I molding apparatus comprising the construction defined in claim 1 together with means for vertically adjusting the head on the frame.

3. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus having the construction defined in claim 1 together with means for rotarily adjusting the head on the; frame.

4:. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus havingthe construction defined in claim 1 together with means for rotarily and vertically adjusting the head on the frame.

5. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus having the construction defined in claim 1 in which the head is mounted on the frame by a universal connection permitting it to adjust itself automatically to the plane of rotation of the hub carrier.

6. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising the construction defined in claiml in which the head is provided at its bottom with a spherical surface and in which the frame is provided with a seat for the head having a spherical surface fitting into the head.

7, A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising the construction defined in claim (5 in which the spllerical seat for the head is provided upon a block mounted for vertical adjustment in the frame and in which means are provided for vertically adjusting the said block.

8. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a head provided with vacuum and compressed air chambers mounted ccn-- trally of and upon the frame, a hub carrier peripherally supported on the frame for rotary movement concentrically of the head, a hub on the carrier fitting over the head, hollow armscxtending radially from the hub, pick offs on the ends of the hollow arms, and driving means engaging the carrier at its periphery for effecting the rotary movement.- thereof.

9. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising a supporting frame presenting in the same horizontal plane bearing surfaces widely separated diametrically, an annular lmb carrier peripherally supported for horizontal rotary movement on the said bearing surfaces. a hub on the carrier, pick-offs connected to the hub. and means for clamping the periphery of the carrier in engagement with said bearing surfaces.

10. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising the construction defined in claim 9 together with a plurality of means carried by-the supporting frame and radially adjustable thereon and engaging the periphery of the hub carrier to position its path of rotary movement.

11. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising a supporting frame, an annular h-ub carrier peripherally supported on the frame for horizontal rotary movement, an external annular flange on the carrier,and adjustable means on the frame engaging the flange to form a snug bearing therefor.

12. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising a supporting frame, an annular hub carrier peripherally supported on the frame for horizontal rotary movement, an external annular flange on the carrier, a plurality of antifriction bearing surfaces on the frame beneath the said flange to support the carrier, a plurality of retaining plates above the flange, and a plurality of bearing blocks engaging the periphery of the flange; and means for radially adjusting the said hearing blocks. 1

13. A transferring mechanism for a pulp molding apparatus comprising a supporting frame, an annular hub carrier peripherally supported on the frame for horizontal rotary movement thereof. -an internal gear on the periphery of the said carrier. a vertical shaft mounted for rotation in the frame. a pinion on said shaft engaging the rotating parted to the hub carrier at its periphe without transmitting the weight of the hu carrier to the driving shaft.

frame, a hub carrier peripherally supportthereof. 14. A transferring'mechanism for a pnlp. molding apparatus comprising a supporting ed on the frame for horizontal rotary movement thereon, and driving means mounted on .10 p the frame and engagin the carrier at its periphery for effecting t e rotary movement In testimony whereof, I hate signed iny name to this s cification. a

ERT R. WILLIAMSON. 

